St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-09
THE FISHERIES TROUBLE.
The President Writes Letter OH tn,
subject of Retaliation.


subject Of RetaliatlOn.
WASHINGTON. April S.-The president
having received communication from the
fishermen's association calling attention to
the fisheries dispute, and suggesting that the
retaiiatofy act would. in their opinion, be
sufficiently executed if the proposed retail
alton was confined to the closing of United
States markets to Canadian fish products,
he has made the following answer:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, April
7.-George Steele, Esq, President Fisher
mems Union, Gloucester, Mass: l have re-
ceived your letter recently addressed to
me, and have given full consideration to the
views and wishes therein contained-in rela-
ton to the existing differences between the
government of Great Britain and the United
States, growing out of the refusal to award
to our citizens engaged in fishing enterprises
the privileges to which they are entitled,
either under treaty stipulations OR the guar
anteeS of ofinternatiOnal comfy and neighbOrly
concessions. l sincerely trust
THE APPREHENSION YOU EXPRESS
of unjust and unfriendly treatment of Amer
ican fishermen lawfully found in Canadian
waters will not be realized. But if such ap-
prehension should prove to be well founded,
earnestly hope that no fault Or nconsider-
ate action OF any of our citizens will in the
ment, or deprive us of the universal SYM
pathy ana support to which we should be n
Titled. The action Of this administration
since June, 1885, when the fishery articles of
the treaty of 1871 were terminated under the
notifica tion which had two years befor been
given by our government, has been fully dis
closed by the correspondence between the
representatives and the appropriate depart
mentS of the two governments, with which.
am apprised by your letter, you are entirely
familiar. An examination of this correSpon-
6ence has doubtless satisfied you that in no
case have the rights or privileges of Ameri-
can fishermen been overlooked or neglected,
but that on the contrary they have been sed-
uiously insisted upon and cared for by every
means within the control of the eXecu-
tive branch of the government.
The act of congress approved March
5, 1887, authorizing course of
retaliation through executive action in the
event of q continuance on the part OF the Brit
ish-American authorities of unfriendly con-
duct and treaty violations affecting American
fisheries has devolved upon the president
OF the United States exceedingly grave and
solemn responsibility comprehending
HIGHLY IMPORTANT CONSEQUENCES
to our national dignity, and involving ex-
tremely valuable commercial intercourse be-
tween the British possessions of NORTH
America and the people of the
United States. understand the
main purpose of your letter is to suggest
that In case recourse to the retaliatory
measure authorized by this act should be in
vited by the unjust treatment OF our fisher
men in the future, the object of such retalia-
ton might be fully accomplished by prohb-
iting Canadian-caught fish from entry into
the ports of the United States. The existing
controversy is one in which two nations are
the parties concerned. The retaliation con-
templated by the act of congress is to be en-
forced, not to protect any particular interest,
however meritoriouS or valuable, but TO
main tain the national honor, and thus pro-
tect all our people. In this view the viola
ton of American fishery rights, and unjust
or unfriendly acts towards portion
of our citizens engaged in business,
is but the occasion for action
and constitutes a national atfront which
gives birth to, or may justify retaliation.
This measure once resorted to, its effective
ness and value may depend upon the thor
oughness aud extent of its application, and
in the performance of international duties,
the enforcement of international rights and
the protection of our citizens this govern
ment, and the people of the United States,
must act as unit all intent upon attaining
the best result of retaliation upon the basis
of a maintainance of national honor and
duty. A nation seeking by any means to
maintain its honor, dignity and integrity is
engaged in protecting the rights of its peo-
ple and if in such efforts particular interests
are injured and special advantages forfeited,
the things should be
PATRIOTICALLY BORNE
for the public good. An immense volume of
population. manufactures and agricultural
productions, and the marine tonnage and
railways to which these have given activity,
all largely the result of intercourse between
the United States and British America, and
the natural growth of full half century of
good neighborhood and friendly communities
tion form an aggregate of material wealth
and incidental relations of the most impress
sive magnitude. l fully appreciate these
things. and am not unmindful of the great
number of our people who are concerned in
such vast and diversified interests. In the
performance of the serious duty which the
congress has imposed upon ME, and in the ex-
ercise upon Just occasion of the power con-
ferred under the act referred to- shall feel
myself bound to infiict no unnecessary dam
age or injury upon any portion of our people,
but I shall, nevertheless, be unflinchingly